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Particle flow characteristics in a gas–solid fluidized bed: a microscopic perspective by coupled CFD–DEM approach

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Abstract

In a dense gas–solid fluidized bed, the microscopic quantities, including forces and energy of particles, directly determine their macroscopic motion in space. In this work, the CFD–DEM coupling approach is used to detect the energy evolution and the effect of fluid forces on the particles using a microscopic perspective. The numerical simulation accuracy of CFD–DEM to predict the macroscopic motion behavior of the particles was validated by carrying out high-speed photographic tests. The results showed that the drag force positively correlates with the inlet flow rate and particle diameter, where it exists only near the inlet. In the axial position of the fluidized bed near the inlet, the tangential contact force is significantly dominant, while an effect of a small proportion of particles with a normal contact force (> 0.1N) is founded. Under different operating conditions, the fluid pressure gradient force can be neglected at a position greater than two times the inlet length where a convex curve shape is formed. In addition, the particle energy is positively correlated with the inlet flow rate and the particle diameter, where the existing bubble formation causes energy fluctuations. This study reveals the microscopic mechanism of gas–solid interaction and provides theoretical guidance for the optimal design of fluidized bed structure and improvement of mathematical models.

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Abbreviations

ρ f :

Fluid density

ρ p :

Particle density

m p :

Particle mass

u p :

Particle translational velocity

I :

Inertia tensor

ω :

Angular velocity vector

F c :

Contact force

F fp :

Particle–fluid interaction force

g :

Gravitational acceleration

T c :

Torque

T fp :

Additional torque

u f :

Gas velocity

p :

Share pressure

τ f :

Molecular viscous stress tensor

V grid :

CFD volume grid

V p :

Volume of particles located in the local grid

\(\nabla {\varvec{u}}_{f}\) :

Turbulent viscosity coefficient

\({\varvec{F}}_{n}^{t}\) :

Normal contact forces

\(\Delta S_{n}\) :

The difference between the normal overlap

K nl :

Loaded contact stiffness

K nu :

Unloaded contact stiffness

\({\varvec{F}}_{\tau ,e}^{t}\) :

Elastic frictional force

K t :

Tangential stiffness

\(\Upsilon_{K}\) :

Tangential stiffness ratio

F d :

Drag force

\({\varvec{F}}_{\nabla p}\) :

Pressure gradient force

F V :

Virtual mass force

F L :

Lift force

F other :

Other force

C D :

Drag coefficient

ψ :

Particle sphericity

e :

Coefficient of restitution

d :

Particle diameter

Q m :

Inlet flow rate

E work :

Energy for work done

E kinetic :

Kinetic energy

E rotational :

Potential energy

E potential :

Rotational energy

W diss k :

Dissipative work

W diss k,c :

Collision dissipation work

W diss k,r :

Rolling resistance dissipation work

v rel c :

Relative velocity

ω rel c :

Relative angular velocity

M r :

Rolling resistance moment

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52079058), Nature Science Foundation for Outstanding Young Scholars of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BK20230011), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BK20220544), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2023M731367).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering & Technology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Zhenjiang Zhao, Ling Bai, Mahmoud A. El-Emam & Ling Zhou

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu, China

    Weidong Shi

  3. Square Technology Group Co., Ltd, Nantong, 226371, China

    Linjian Li

  4. CFD Lab, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Ramesh Agarwal

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  1. Zhenjiang Zhao
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Zhao, Z., Bai, L., Shi, W. et al. Particle flow characteristics in a gas–solid fluidized bed: a microscopic perspective by coupled CFD–DEM approach. Comp. Part. Mech. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-023-00694-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-023-00694-8

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